‘Rest in beats:’ Hip hop community pays tribute to rapper Craig Mack

Former rapper Craig Mack, best known for the platinum 1994 hit Flava in Ya Ear has died in South Carolina.

Colleton County Corner Richard Harvey says the 47-year-old Mack died at his home in Walterboro around 9 p.m. Monday. Harvey said it appeared Mack died of natural causes.

The Long Island, N.Y., rapper helped launch Diddy’s Bad Boy Entertainment with his first album, Project: Funk da World. It was anchored by Flava in Ya Ear, which was nominated for a Grammy.

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The remix also included LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes and the then up-and-coming Biggie Smalls. His follow-up single, Get Down went gold.

“Craig Mack you were the first artist to release music on Bad Boy and gave us our first hit. You always followed your heart and you had an energy that was out of this world. You believed in me and you believed in Bad Boy,” Diddy said on social media on Tuesday.

Craig Mack, you were the first artist to release music on Bad Boy and gave us our first hit. You always followed your heart and you had an energy that was out of this world. You believed in me and you believed in Bad Boy. I will never forget what you did for hip-hop. pic.twitter.com/qvnxRTcdXv

I’m so saddened to get a text about Craig Mack😞 I am grateful to have worked with him on this song on the Dangerous Minds soundtrack & he was so kind funny & Talented 🙌🏾 Rest peacefully Craig🙏🏾 https://t.co/RJy4bqdeP1

“I’m so saddened to get a text about Craig Mack,” wrote Missy Elliott on Twitter. “I am grateful to have worked with him on this song on the Dangerous Minds soundtrack & he was so kind funny & Talented … Rest peacefully Craig.”

#CraigMack killed the 90s with 1 song and 1 remix. 👂🏽. Untouchable. RIP.